• Advanced Cancer Therapeutics, of Louisville, Ky., exclusively licensed 3PO and related compounds from the University of Louisville's James Graham Brown Cancer Center. The drug candidate has been shown in preclinical studies to inhibit the enzyme PFKFB3, which suppresses sugar metabolism and cell proliferation in cancer cells. Terms were not disclosed.

• Advaxis Inc., of North Brunswick, N.J., published findings on the potential use of a Listeria monocytogenes-based vaccine for prostate cancer, showing that a recombinant live attenuated Listeria monocytogenes/PSA vaccine is a likely candidate for immunotherapy. Advaxis is developing cancer vaccines based on technology developed by Yvonne Paterson, professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania and chairman of Advaxis' scientific advisory board.

• Affinium Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Toronto, initiated a Phase I trial with AFN-1252, the lead drug candidate from its new class of antibiotics that inhibit the bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis (Fab) pathway. AFN-1252 has shown preclinical activity against drug-resistant staphylococcal infections and has established oral bioavailability in a human microdosing study.

• AtheroGenics Inc., of Atlanta, said it has met Nasdaq's standard for continued listing on the exchange. The company said it has met the requirement to have more than $50 million in revenue and $50 million in total assets for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31.

• Biotage AB, of Stockholm, Sweden, and partner McMaster University, in Ontario, have agreed to a two-year extension of their research agreement, following the successful completion of the first phase of work by the university. The research is aimed at improving molecular imaging agents, using the Biotage Initiator Microwave synthesis system. The next phase of research will focus on expanding microwave synthesis to a broader range of radionuclides and probes used in PET imaging and as therapeutic agents, the company said.

• Cell Therapeutics Inc., of Seattle, said it has submitted a marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for Xyotax (paclitaxel poliglumex, CT-2103), a potential first-line treatment for certain patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. The application is based on a positive opinion from the EMEA's Scientific Advice Working Party, which agreed to review the application based on the existing results of the Phase III clinical studies, known as the STELLAR trials

• China Biologic Products Inc., of Tai'an City, China, said its stock was approved to be quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, under the symbol "CBPO." The company is focused on plasma-based products.

• Clinical Data Inc., of Newton, Mass., said its Cogenics division completed work with Rosetta Biosoftware, of Seattle, to develop microRNA analysis capabilities for the Rosetta Resolver Gene Expression Data Analysis System. That new capability has been integrated with the system, enabling scientists to analyze microRNA expression data alongside gene expression data generated using microarrays.

• Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd., of Japan, and PsychoGenics Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., have entered into a drug discovery agreement to screen selected Dainippon Sumitomo compounds using PsychoGenics' drug discovery systems to identify new therapies for central nervous system disorders. Dainippon Sumitomo is investigating treatments for psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and cognitive disorders.

• D-Pharm Ltd., of Rehovot, said it has held its pre-investigational new drug meeting with the FDA to discuss the forthcoming IND submission for DP-b99, a novel drug to aid recovery following acute stroke. The meeting focused on the proposed plans for the Phase III clinical program, and the discussion included clinical trials to date, preclinical pharmacology, toxicology data and agency requirements and suggestions for the submission. Results from a Phase IIb trial in 150 ischemic stroke patients will be published shortly in the peer-reviewed journal Stroke.

• Generex Biotechnology Corp., of Worcester, Mass., said it has extended its agreement with the Lebanese-Canadian Hospital in Beirut for follow-on testing of specific peptides screened over the past year. During the initial screening, it was found that all vaccine peptides were safe and well tolerated. The vaccine, which consists of small peptide fragments of the H5 protein from the H5N1 influenza virus that have been modified to increase the ability to specifically stimulate CD4+ T helper cells, is being developed both in the U.S. and at the Lebanese-Canadian Hospital.

• Ichor Medical Systems, of San Diego, initiated a high-dose cohort of its ongoing Phase I melanoma vaccine trial. The vaccine, developed at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, consists of DNA encoding a form of the tyrosinase protein and is delivered via the Ichor TriGrid Delivery System, which uses electroporation to increase the intracellular delivery of the DNA vaccine to the cells at the site.

• Immunicon Corp., of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., said an arbitrator issued a final decision determining that Raritan, N.J.-based Veridex LLC was not in breach of its "best efforts" marketing obligation of the CellSearch test developed by Immunicon, and dismissed Immunicon's claims in the arbitration. In addition, Veridex was awarded $304,013 in contract damages pursuant to its counterclaim challenging Immunicon's use of circulating tumor cell reagents and analyzers as part of Immunicon's pharma services business. The CellSearch System recently gained expanded FDA clearance for use in monitoring metastatic prostate cancer patients. Shares of Immunicon (NASDAQ:IMMC) fell 42 cents, or 52.5 percent, on the arbitrator's decision, closing Tuesday at 38 cents.

• Juvaris BioTherapeutics Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif., has granted access to its veterinary monoimmunotherapy and vaccine technology to Bayer HealthCare AG, of Leverkusen, Germany. The companies said they will evaluate and execute product development programs directed at immune stimulation and disease prevention in a variety of animal species. Juvaris is developing the technology for human health care. Under the collaboration, Bayer's animal health division will help financially support Juvaris' research, product formulation, development and GMP manufacturing activities to support its alliance obligations. The license is worldwide in scope. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

• Millipore Corp., of Billerica, Mass., and Guava Technologies Inc., of Hayward, Calif., said they have entered into a long-term partnership to deliver integrated flow cytometry solutions, a technique used by scientists to measure changes in protein expression in individual cells that may occur as a consequence of many important factors such as stem cell differentiation, disease, aging, cancer development, drug treatment and toxicity, to scientists conducting research in cell biology, including stem cell research. Under the terms of the partnership, Millipore will gain exclusive rights to distribute Guava's nonclinical instrumentation within defined fields in North America, Europe and certain countries in Asia. Millipore also will provide field service for all Guava instrumentation in the same geographies. In addition, Millipore will develop co-branded reagent kits specifically for Guava's flow cytometers.

• Mpex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said the FDA has granted orphan drug status to its levofloxacin solution for inhalation, used for the potential treatment of pulmonary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria in patients with cystic fibrosis. Levofloxacin is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in MP-376, the company's proprietary levofloxacin solution for inhalation. The company expects to initiate a Phase IIb clinical trial in about 140 CF patients in the second quarter.

• Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., reported publication of a new preclinical study in Clinical Cancer Research that it said supports the specific tumor targeting properties of its anti-phosphatidylserine (anti-PS) antibody platform. Peregrine's most advanced anti-PS monoclonal antibody, bavituximab, is in Phase II cancer trials in combination with chemotherapy. The study found that in a model of prostate cancer, bavituximab's phosphatidylserine target is specifically exposed in tumors, but not in normal tissues. When labeled with a radioisotope, bavituximab preferentially targeted the tumor blood vessels, strongly localizing to the tumors rather than normal organs.

• Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., of New York, said it has filed a pre-investigational new drug application with German regulators for PLX-PAD for use in treating peripheral artery disease. The package filed with German authority will be used in support of an investigational medicinal product dossier submission planned for later this year, the company said.

• StemCells Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., said it is no longer pursuing a possible acquisition of Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC, of Hackensack, N.J. StemCells on Dec. 3 had announced that it was exploring a potential acquisition and that PCT had agreed to a period of exclusivity to allow for due diligence and negotiations. However, the parties were unable to reach agreement on mutually acceptable terms and conditions and have terminated discussions. In consideration of the exclusivity period, StemCells agreed to make a secured loan of up to $3.8 million to PCT, of which $1 million was lent. The loan will be repaid and retired on its terms. PCT will continue to provide various cell processing services to StemCells under an existing contract.

• StemCyte Inc., of Arcadia, Calif., formed a joint venture in India with Apollo Hospitals and Indian firm Cadila Pharmaceuticals. Operating as StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd., the JV will provide stem cell therapies derived from umbilical cord blood to treat patients with certain malignant blood disorders, including leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well as inherited disorders, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, and immune deficiency diseases. StemCyte India Therapeutics also will participate in clinical studies to develop cell therapies for other unmet clinical needs. Financial terms were not disclosed.